Sunday, July 31, 2011

GROUND BREAKING OF THE FIRST SCHOOL OF PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Last July 19, 2011, the College of Physical Therapy faculty and staff spearheaded the Ground Breaking ceremony for the new Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (PSPO) building along Kapiligan Street in Quezon City.The event took place at the UERMMMCI Gymnasium and at the future PSPO site which is conveniently nestled behind the UERMMMCI College of Nursing building. Placing of the Time Capsule at the PSPO site: (Fr. L to R) Pres. Ester Garcia,

This important milestone in the path to sustainable and accessible services for persons with disability was graced by the Honorable Chairperson of the Commission for Higher Education, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, who was the guest speaker of the event. Other honored guests who attended included the Honorable Secretary Jesse Robredo from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Honorable Mayor Herbert Bautista, Undersecretary Celia Yangco from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and former Governor Grace Padaca, who also gave her response as a representative of the PWDs. Other important guests from the NGOs included Mr. Washington Sycip, Ms. Catherine Vasseur, the program director of Handicap International, the EVP and CEO of Tahanan Walang Hagdan,Ms. Joy Garcia, and Mr. Lauro Purcil, representative to the UN convention for the rights of the PWDs, to name a few.Proponents of the project also attended the event headed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UERMMMCI, Dr. Lucio Tan, UERMMMCI President, Dr. Romeo Divinagracia, Mr. Michael Scott, the Country Director of Cambodia Trust, and President Ester Garcia of UE-Manila.

The honored guests were led by the Dean of the College of Physical Therapy, Dr. Raquel Cabazor and Program Director, Ms. Helen Cochrane to place a time capsule at the future site of the PSPO building.The planned four-storey building made possible by the University of the East, will house the classrooms, technical and clinical laboratories and library of the Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics.These facilities will be fully equipped and staffed with the generous support of the Nippon Foundation of Japan.